Pachaug Loop

Has anyone ridden the Patchaug Loop in Connecticut ? Saw some good tapes on YouTube .

Did 58 miles on the Pachaug Loop in CT Wednesday. Road with 2 Ktms & a Husqvarna, great fun. Take my camera next week.

Back from about 1989-1992, I rode that trail loop so many times with my buddies, we no longer needed a route sheet. :)
I remember a few sections being awesome with great traction.
Being New England, there were plenty of rocks and tree roots, too.

I heard that they improved a couple of the bridges and did some other kinds of trail maintenance since then.

I may be riding it again soon with a buddy who picked up a 200-mile 2007 XR-650R.
I'm sure he'll get a decent workout, as I will too since I'm not getting any younger. :)

Rode the loop 7/14 49 miles and 7/15 89 miles with 2 KTMs I'll have pictures soon. A XR-650 will be a handful in some of the water crossings.

Yeah, I think so, too, but, as the old saying goes...
When in doubt, throttle.

Anyhow, my buddy on his XR-650R and me on my WR-250R hit the area this past Sunday.
We didn't ride the actual loop, but we were in and out of it all day long, going in and out of the state forest all day, ranging from just north of Beach Pond to down to North Stonnington and there abouts.
It was about 150 miles all together, and we were at it from 11:00am until 8:00pm.
Stopping for the occasional rest and lunch was required, of course. :)

The XR-650R and WR-250R came through it all unscathed, as did the riders.
I felt my WR did a great job.
Nice bike, once uncorked, naturally.

We are going to ride Sunday the 9th, meet at mt. misery campsite.

does anyone know where to get a map of pachaug loop? I went there twice this past summer and I wasn't sure where it was safe/legal to ride. I know I was on the loop trail for a little while and it was tough,, I felt like I needed a trials bike to make a few obstacles..I was definitly glad I wasn't on my last bike ,,a KLR. I would be interested in doing a group ride this spring/summer to pachaugh,,the road ride to get there from my house is almost as nice as riding in the forest..................I would also be interested in doing some group rides in some other parts of connecticut...I live in the Stafford area and we have some nice riding around here.,,,now I'll wait for the snow to melt..

Jason, click this link:

http://www.netra.org/

That's the home page for NETRA, the New England Trail Rider Association.
Click the JOIN and STORE buttons to join and order route sheets for the Pachaug loop, also known as the NETRA E8.

I've ridden the Pachaug loop a few times this past fall.
It's typical Connecticut woods: Rocks, mud, rocks, trees all over the place, rocks, the occasional patch of good dirt, rocks, some pine needles sprinkled about in patches, and rocks.

Riding this loop on a KLR-600?
Not me, thanks.
Too tight and rocky for a guy my size on a street bike like that.
Maybe for Paul Bunyan. :)

I have ridden the loop on my WR-250R, and it does just fine and dandy.
I recommend mounting some real knobby tires, or at least some DOT-approved knobby replicas.
This will make the ride much more enjoyable.

The whole Pachaug state forest is open to street-legal motorcycles...with a catch:
You are supposed to stay on either the dirt roads or the motorcycle-approved trails, and these trails are basically the trails that make-up the Pachaug loop (the loop goes in and out of the state forest for it's whole 65-or-so miles, with the trails being connected by pieces of paved road).
The trails that look relatively smooth and not rocky are hiking trails.
Figures, huh?

When on the dirt roads, be on the lookout for two-way traffic, some of which is illegal ATV use coming the other way on your side of the road.
ATVs are not allowed in the state forest, but that ain't stopping these guys that want a place to ride.

Just ask if you've got questions. :)

rode pachaug last sunday july3rd,,,I stayed on the dirt rodes mostly.About half way home it started raining,,,,so.if anyone is planning on riding pachaug anytime soon than post up and make it a group ride.....Jason

What a coincidence.
I rode in Pachaug just yesterday afternoon (Saturday, the 9th) on my 2009 WR-250F.
Being that I've been riding my 2008 WR-250X on the street so far this riding season, I took it easy to get the feel for it.
I did a shortened version of the Pachaug Loop, did 34 miles total, and by the end, I felt good.

Jason, I'll meet you there if you want to on a Saturday after 1:00pm or anytime on a Sunday.
Just let me know.
I just might be going out there again, today, it felt so good. :)

I have no pic of the ride, but here's before I left for it:

So this is dual sport only from what i read. A yamaha congo line should be in order !!

dtx wrote:

So this is dual sport only from what i read.

If you're referring to the legal requirements to ride the Pachaug loop, yes, your bike needs to be street registered.
Anything without a legit license plate is a no-no.
ATVs are a no-no, no matter what, although I sometime see illegals out there just looking for a place to ride.
I know how that is to this day, so I say nothing and let them be.

Luckily, a street registration is enough, and no second off-road registration is required.

For now. ;)

Yay "for now". With what we now have to do..what a bunch of bull@#$%
this ones on the short list of places to ride.

yzect, I could get out of working tomorrow, if you want to ride tomorrow (sunday) than that would be good,,I could be down at pachaug around 11 or 12 if that works out,,,,let me know.,,,,,,,,,Jason

jason meacham wrote:

yzect, I could get out of working tomorrow, if you want to ride tomorrow (sunday) than that would be good,,I could be down at pachaug around 11 or 12 if that works out,,,,let me know.,,,,,,,,,Jason

PM sent, Jason.